But the diagnosis brought little relief. In the past eight months, she has dropped 85 pounds. She and her doctors are still trying to find the right balance of medications to help her.

Crohn's is a bowel disease that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea and malnutrition. There is no known cure.

Schmidt, the daughter of Stephen and Jilisea Schmidt, was named the Gulf Coast and Northwest Florida Honored Hero by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America in advance of the Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis Walk, set for Oct. 14 at Fairhope Bay Front Park & Pier. Proceeds will fund research for Crohn's and other digestive disorders.

Schmidt, a junior, takes all-honors courses at Faith Academy. Her teachers and friends at Faith have rallied around her, helping to raise money for the walk through the sale of bracelets with the inscription "Praying for Elizabeth." "My friends are so supportive," she said.

View full sizeJilisea and Elizabeth Schmidt at Disney World (Courtesy of the Schmidt family)

Schmidt takes numerous medications daily. "I take most of the pills in the morning and some medications before and after meals to get my appetite up," she said. She can sometimes manage only one meal a day. "I don't feel hungry at all."

In addition, she copes with frequent absences from class -- sometimes because of nausea, sometimes for doctor appointments. "I don't like to miss school," she said.

View full sizeElizabeth and her brother, Blake, at Disney World. (Courtesy of Jilisea Schmidt)

On her worst days, she can't keep the pills down, so the drugs must be taken intravenously. "I'm never really not nauseated," she said.

"She's very strong, and I think she has had to grow up a lot faster than most kids her age," Jilisea Schmidt said. "People who meet her are impressed by her attitude and her knowledge of what's going on -- and just her ability to get through the day."

Last month, the Schmidt family, which includes Blake, 11, took a vacation to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. "Disney was great --we really enjoyed getting away from all the doctor visits and hospital stays and just having some family time," Jilisea Schmidt said. "There were a couple of days when Elizabeth wasn't able to do all the activities we'd planned, but she was a trooper."

The family is doing its best to cope with Elizabeth's illness, her mother said. "We pray a lot. We pray that there will be a cure for her soon. We used to always pray for healing, and now it's to a point where we just pray for one good day."

Check-in for the Gulf Coast Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis Walk at Fairhope Bay Front Park & Pier begins at 3 p.m. on Oct. 14. The walk begins at 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.ccfa.org, or email takesteps@ccfa.org.